Following up on the premiere of last week’s Budget Is Low Mixtape, today brings us yet another full-length free download from the Low Budget Crew – this time from rapper, Kenn Starr. Entitled It’s Still Real…, the unmixed non-tape is a discography update of sorts – collecting the guest appearances and collaborations Kenn has done his 2006 debut, Starr Status. Included are production & appearances by the likes of 9th Wonder, Kev Brown, Marco Polo, Oddisee, Raheem DeVaughn, Wale, and more.

The download also serves as a prelude to an upcoming mixtape of all new material with Hot 97′s Peter Rosenberg. All of this is in preparation for the release of Kenn Starr’s upcoming album, Two Track Mind – a double EP produced by Black Milk, with remixes by Kev Brown, M-Phazes, Mr. Porter, DaveNotti and more. Two Track Mind is slated for release this fall through Mello Music Group – so look out for much more on that in the coming months.

Check the tracklisting here and get your download below. Be on the look out for yet another Low Budget-related free download coming here this weekend.

1. Let It Be Known (feat. Hassaan Mackey & Silent Knight) (prod. Analogic)
2. The Truth (feat. Kaimbr) (prod. RODDYROD & Kev Brown)
3. In Check (feat. Oddisee & Supastition) (prod. Oddisee)
4. DJ Flexx Freestyle (’01 Throwback) (Live on WPGC Washington, D.C.)
5. It’s Time (feat. Soulstice, Eternia & Tiffany Paige) (prod. M-Phazes)
6. Low Budget All Stars (feat. Kev Brown, Oddisee, Cy Young & Kaimbr) (prod. Marco Polo)
7. Represent (feat. Akir & Oddisee) (prod. Oddisee)
8. That’s How We Kick It (feat. J. Sands) (prod. Chief)
9. Price 2 Pay (feat. Asheru, Oddisee & Darien Brockington) (prod. Oddisee)
10. DJ Eclipse Freestyle (’04 Throwback) (Live on WNYU New York, NY)
11. Wonder Why (feat. Wale, Big Sean & Mike Posner) (prod. 9th Wonder)
12. Q&A (feat. Oddisee) (prod. Oddisee)
13. The Dropoff (feat. JLaine) (prod. JLaine)
14. Kemistree Meets Low Budget (feat. Hassaan Mackey, Kev Brown & Gut) (prod. Young Cee)
15. DJ K.O. Freestyle (’04 Throwback) (Live on WRSU New Brunswick, NJ)
16. Coming Of Age ’09 (prod. Nick Tha 1da)
17. Hennessey Pt. 3 (feat. Kev Brown & Raheem DeVaughn) (prod. Kev Brown)
18. Sum Ish For Dave (feat. Haysoos) (prod. 9th Wonder)

Compiled by Kenn Starr & DJ RODDYROD for Low Budget
Artwork by Heinz for HNZ Designs
Selected by KNNY FRSH for FRSH SLCTS

For those who have been sleeping, 14KT is a producer/MC/DJ from the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based collectives Athletic Mic League & the Lab Techs. And, quiet as kept – he’s also one of the most consistent producers in the game right now. Recent productions include about half of his AML fam, Buff1‘s, new album, There’s Only 1, and 2 of my personal favorites from Invincible‘s ShapeShifters (“Sledgehammer!” & “No Easy Answers”) – as well as placements with One Be Lo, Phat Kat, Now On, Wildchild, and others.

Anyway… these are the first 4 of 6 leaked tracks (1 a week until the release date) from KT himself, off of his debut solo album (the soundtrack to his life, as he puts it), The Golden Hour, dropping October 14th.

And they even come with liner notes!

“This version of this song featuring Stones Throw artist Aloe Blacc, is actually NOT going to be on my soundtrack. However, without telling Aloe Blacc the real inspiration behind the track, one day he sent me this version, which happened to go with the concept and I liked it so much I HAD to share it EXCLUSIVELY with you.

My inspiration for this joint was going through a relationship that became so trying & serious that it was hard 2 just have fun & chill again with that person, U know? I freaked the sample as symbolism for how I felt. Tried 2 make the song sound “new” again in a sense. Kinda like how I wish I could do the same with the relationship. Enjoy.”

“First of all, I LOVE trying to flip records like this for fun. Hope you enjoy it.

I’m a night person so I needed some theme music! Ha!
I took every aspect of “the night” & chopped it into this joint.
I think I chopped 4 or 5 different sayings of “the” from the singer. How intricate is that? Yep, too much time on my hands.
Theme music for all my true night owls. No Sleep. Freaks come out at night. Slow Jamz. Just crusin’. Chill Time. Me Time. All wrapped in one beat.”

“This is BY FAR my favorite joint off the project and yes that is me TRYING to sing on it. HAHA!
Years ago, I asked my bestfriend Keri to name one word that described me. She replied “Illustrious.” I was like WHOA!
When I made this, I was listening to alot of late 70s/early 80s Rock music. I wanted to make a Gospel song, but I didn’t want to do it in the traditional sense sonically. So I wanted to make my version a 80′s Rock Gospel Song!
Even though Keri described me as Illustrious, I could never ever come close to letting my little light shine without the Grace, Love, and Power of GOD! So I dedicated this joint to GOD and how I feel with Him in my life!!
If you feel the same way, hopefully you will feel the song. I know I’ll get criticized for my singing, but I don’t care.
I was expressing myself!! That’s what music is about right?

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
“Illustrious/ I feel/ When you’re in my life
So Heavenly/I feel/When you’re in my life

Verse 2:
“You are the only way, please show me (the way)
I want to shine, shine, shine, Divine (divine continues to echo)

“God, I need you in my life (repeats at the end)

“Much love to my brothas Zo! on additional keys/bass, my mans Ab on the Vocals, and my mans Sam Beaubien who came through and laid trumpet for the track. I appreciate it ya’ll”

(Taken from an IM conversation)

A.L. says : can i ask what inspired this one?
14KT says: divorce.. hate crimes.. disrespect.. people getting killed.. relationships..
A.L says: it’s wrapped so eloquently though, with much respect
14KT says: yeah..I wanted the track to sound more contemplative than sad..but its really based on negative things…
A.L says: yeah it feels that way…. sad isn’t really my emotion… it’s just emotion-full in a way.. the way that there’s a tinge of sadness in “I fall in love too easily” – that’s what the trumpet reminds me of..
14KT says: “This hate that I see…is less than enough to detect any love/This music I hear…is less than enough to detect any love/These relationships I see..are less than enough to detect any love/This respect that I get…is less than enough to detect any love..”
A.L says: man… i feel u.. that’s deeper than….
14KT says: its actually simple..just me thinking on things…and seeing how they could be so much better if people had more love.. but instead they have “Less than Enough..”
A.L says: yessir. wow… thank you so much for sharing this with me……… ”

“When I started putting the soundtrack together, there was a scene in my “life movie” where I was reflecting on important memories, people, and situations that made me who I am. I envisioned a tiny purple spaceship,slowly flying inside of my brain (kind of like the movie “Innerspace” haha)… where you see snapshots of different moments….giving you a tour of everything that was going through my mind. I wanted the music to sound spacey and introspective to capture the vibe of the scene. Much love to my girl Tiffany Paige for the beautiful vocals to illustrate the scene more..hope you can see it..”

“I wanted to make theme music that gives you the feeling of where I am from. Ypsilanti..Ypsitucky..Ypsilanta.. is a small city in Michigan. There are areas of it that are somewhat hard and you can hear it in the drums, but the overall vibe of Ypsi is very simple, laid back, kinda country, and chill. This is theme music for anyone who is from Ypsilanti, ever lived in Ypsilanti, loves Ypsilanti, or just knows about Ypsilanti…its for you.. “